Mac Jones’ former Alabama teammate shares story about Patriots QB’s work ethic in faculty

Patriots

“I’m in a go well with catching footballs from Mac Jones. Like, what’s going on proper now?”

Following a disappointing 2022 season, there are a lot of questions surrounding Mac Jones and his potential as a top-tier quarterback within the NFL.

However the former Alabama QB’s work ethic and dedication to his craft have not often been questioned throughout his taking part in profession.

Even amid the dysfunction current on the Patriots’ teaching employees final season, Jones has reportedly been one in every of a “handful” of gamers who’ve been regulars on the staff’s amenities this offseason. 

Again in 2021, Alabama coach Nick Saban stated that Jones’ soccer IQ and prep work made him an ideal match for a staff led by Invoice Belichick. Former Patriots defensive captain Devin McCourty has repeatedly given Jones his seal of approval in 2023 and past. 

And earlier this week, Jones’ former teammate at Alabama — extensive receiver Mac Hereford — supplied one other anecdote detailing the sign caller’s obsessive deal with soccer.

Throughout an look on The Facet Hustle Podcast, Hereford detailed an impromptu throwing session with Jones again in 2019.

Late-night reps at Alabama’s Mal M. Moore Coaching Facility isn’t essentially an outlier for the numerous future NFL stars who realized below Saban in Tuscaloosa.

However Jones and Hereford’s reps got here shortly after the Crimson Tide returned from a soccer banquet. As anticipated, formal apparel was required for the occasion, which means that Hereford was ill-prepared for the prolonged on-field exercise that Jones was able to roll out.

“Mac’s like, ‘Hereford, you wanna catch a pair?’” Hereford recalled. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, however I’m not gonna get out of my go well with. I’m gonna keep in my go well with.’ So I’m in my go well with from the banquet, Mac goes and adjustments — he will get in his stuff. He comes out on the sector and it begins off like we’re simply tossing. I’m like, ‘Alright, I suppose I’ll take off the jacket. Getting a bit bit scorching in right here.’ I’m in a button-down and a few slacks out right here within the Mal M. Moore apply facility.

“We hold throwing after which he’s like, ‘Hey, do you thoughts jogging this route?’ So then I’m jogging this little slant route, catching the ball. I like catching, I’m a discipline rat, so I like these items. However, I’m barefoot. I didn’t carry my cleats, so now I’ve gotten out of my church footwear. I’m barefoot in Mal M. Moore facility, it’s like 10:30 at evening and we simply acquired again from this factor, and nobody else is right here. I’m in a go well with catching footballs from Mac Jones. Like, what’s going on proper now?’”

Certain sufficient, Jones didn’t gradual issues down as his throwing session with Hereford continued.

“We hold doing it till it actually will get right down to, I’m like ruining this collared shirt. Take off this — so I’m simply in my go well with pants,” Hereford stated. “And I’m like, ‘I don’t need to rip my go well with pants.’ I get right down to compression shorts and nothing else, operating routes in Mal M. Moore Facility, catching balls from Mac Jones. I’m like ‘What’s going on?’ I beloved it. I’m fairly positive somebody walked in and puzzled what the hell is happening right here?”

It doesn’t look like Jones’ work ethic has waned since making the leap as much as the NFL. And with Invoice O’Brien now handed the keys to the Patriots offense, it might sign promising returns in 2023 for a quarterback who appears to by no means flip down extra reps out on the gridiron.

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